Book details

Book description

One hundred colourful portraits of the cricketing characters whom Ian Botham has come across in his eventful career and who have influenced the game for good in his time: from top players, umpires and coaches to pop stars, writers and philanthropists.

Among the cast of characters who will feature in Botham's own Who's Who of cricket will be top players such as Viv Richards, Brian Close and Shane Warne.

Umpire Dickie Bird and the late John Arlott will also have a place in Beefy's Hall of Fame. Others associated with cricket include Mick Jagger, Sir Paul Getty and Nancy (who used to cook the lunches at Lord's and was responsible for many a cricketer's expanding waistline); and many more who in Beefy's opinion have been a positive influence in the game during his era.

Witty, entertaining and controversial, these portraits are sure to incite a plethora of opinions from those both inside and outside the game.

Lavishly illustrated, this book will be a treasured item for all cricket fans in the lead up to Christmas 2001. Ian Botham was the most thrilling sight in cricket for nearly 20 years. He retired in 1993 and has since been an advisor to the England team, a commentator for Sky, and writes a column in the Daily Mirror. He continues to be a keen analyst of the game.
Peter Hayter is the cricket correspondent for the Mail on Sunday. He has also written for other newspapers and collaborated with Botham on his bestselling autobiography and the Botham Report.